Romancing the Shadow

Book excerpt: The classic, provocative bestselling guide on shadow work that “enables you to peel away the layers of your soul and get in touch with the purity of Being that lies within you” (Deepak Chopra, M.D.). “A consummate and timely work . . . An exciting entry into the growing literature on the dark side of the soul. There is deep wisdom and nourishment here.”—New Age Journal Beneath the social mask we wear every day, we have a hidden shadow side: an impulsive, wounded, sad, or isolated part that we generally try to ignore. But as therapists Connie Zweig and Steve Wolf show in this landmark book, the shadow can actually be a source of emotional richness and vitality, and acknowledging it can be a pathway to healing and living an authentic life. “Romancing the shadow”—meeting your dark side, accepting it for what it is, and learning to use its powerful energies in productive ways—is the challenging and exciting work that Zweig and Wolf offer in this practical, rewarding guide. Drawing on the timeless teachings of Carl Jung and compelling stories of men and women whom they have helped in their clinical practices, Zweig and Wolf reveal how the shadow guides your choices in love, sex, marriage, friendship, work, and family life. With their innovative methods on shadow work, you can: • uncover the unique patters and purpose of your shadow • learn to defuse negative emotions • reclaim forbidden or lost feelings • achieve greater self-acceptance • heal betrayal • reimagine and re-create relationships • cultivate compassion for others • renew creative expression • find purpose in your suffering The shadow knows why good people sometimes do bad things. Romancing the shadow and learning to read the messages it encodes in daily life can deepen your consciousness, imagination, and soul.